The French Alps and Alex's 9th Birthday
We just spent 5 days in the French Alps in the Haute-Savoie region of France for vacation and Alex's 9th Birthday. We took the TGV (2 hrs) to Lyon and then rented a car and drove 2 1/2 hours to the town of La Clusaz. Each day we ventured around the mountain towns and on Friday went to Chamonix. We had fabulous weather and enjoyed the traditional food, wine, and cheese of the region. Alex drove a Go-Kart for his birthday which he loved.
Make sure you check out the videos of Go-Karting and swimming:
https://www.youtube.com/jddphd
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeoAO8AMpUg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmD7m3el4GM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BssL-YmAtrA
Tues April 21
TGV from Paris Gare de Lyon to Lyon. Lunch and a walk around the Old City of Lyon. Drive to La Clusaz and our "Residence Les Grande Alpes" apart-hotel. The first room had bunk beds and a sofa bed so we switched rooms to have a separate room with beds. The first night we walked into town and ate at L'Ourson, a traditional Haute-Savoie restaurant.
Weds April 22
We made sure we went to the hotel pool first thing. Alex and Vincent loved the indoor pool and the views of the mountain (the Aravis chain of mountains). We drove down the mountain to Talloires, a small town on Lake Annecy. We passed a town called Alex on the way. We had a nice long lunch in Talloires, including escargot, and fish from the lake.
rest of Wednesday
After lunch we drove further around the Lake to the main town of Annecy. It was a really nice hot sunny day, so Annecy was very crowded but we wanted to see the famous spot where the small river Le Thiou runs through the old town. Then back to La Clusaz and a "light" dinner in town, a meat and cheese board and some crepes with sugar for Alex and Vincent.
A walk into town for coffee and croissants. We stopped in a meat and cheese shop in town where JD tasted the local liquor (Genepi - similar to Chartreuse and absinthe). We promised to return in the evening to purchase snacks. Down the mountain to Go-Karts for Alex. Alex enjoyed a private lesson and JD was scolded for going too fast (surprise). Then a visit to a National Resistance Monument. Back to the town of Thones for a really good pizza lunch. Back to La Clusaz for naps and swimming. Meat and cheese and wine and blueberry tart for Alex's Birthday!
Friday April 24
An hour drive to Chamonix over the mountains and the winding roads. Lunch in Chamonix including meat cooked on a slate, and a walk around to look at the mountains and Mont Blanc. That is not the Dali Lama by the way. A brief drive through the Mont Blanc tunnel to Italy (7 miles and $50 but hey, we had to do it) then back to La Clusaz. Last walk around town, then dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant in La Clusaz.
Sat April 25
One more visit to the hotel pool before driving back to Lyon to take the TGV back to Paris. Alex opened his birthday cards when we returned to the apartment.
Alex's camera
Alex enjoyed taking some pictures on the trip.
JD's camera
Alps trip JD camera.
more pictures
More Alex birthday celebration and opening gifts (a watch and cool clothes from Toots, a Physics set from Z and GG).
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